Request for Assistance: Preventing Entrapment and Suffocation Caused by the Unstable Surfaces of Stored Grain and Other Materials

NIOSH requests assistance in preventing t the accidental entrapment and subsequent suffocation of workers trapped by the unstable surfaces of stored grain and other materials. In several incidents, workers have been entrapped and suffocated by collapsing material while working on or under the unstable surfaces of stored grain or other materials such as sand, gravel, and coal. This alert recounts seven case reports describing the deaths of 12 workers. In each case, the workers became entrapped in grain or other loose material and were unable to free themselves or be freed by their coworkers. These deaths demonstrate the need to focus on preventing future fatalities.

Request for Assistance: Preventing Entrapment and Suffocation Caused by the Unstable Surfaces of Stored Grain and Other Materials